Program Economic Manager

Job Summary We are seeking an experienced Program Economic Manager to join our Vehicle Engineering & Program Management team. In this remote position, you will serve as the primary financial and economic gatekeeper for large-scale vehicle development programs delivering to a major global OEM.

You will manage program profitability, track capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational investments, drive design-to-cost (DtC) strategies, and ensure strict alignment between engineering execution, commercial agreements, and overall program financial targets.

Key Responsibilities 1. Program Financial & Economic Management

• Maintain and track the overall Program Business Case throughout all vehicle development milestones (from concept through Launch / SOP).
• Monitor program P&L, tracking revenue, engineering development costs (ED&T), piece cost, tooling investments, and prototype expenditures against baseline targets.
• Perform monthly profitability variance analysis, identifying financial risks and opportunities to ensure margin targets are achieved.

2. Design-to-Cost (DtC) & Commercial Alignment

• Partner with Product Development Engineers, Design Release Engineers (DREs), and Sourcing/Purchasing teams to drive target costing and cost reduction initiatives.
• Evaluate the financial impact of Engineering Change Notices (ECNs/CNs), scope changes, and technical revisions; ensure all scope creep is commercially recovered from the customer.
• Manage commercial negotiations for design modifications, engineering revisions, and tooling adjustments in collaboration with Account Managers.

3. Investment & Tooling Control

• Track and approve Tool Kick-Off (TKO) requests, prototype tooling orders, and capital investments against the baseline budget.
• Oversee invoicing milestones and customer payment schedules related to engineering deliverables and tooling milestones.

4. Customer Interface & Milestone Reporting

• Lead economic and financial reviews for internal executive leadership and customer program gateways (e.g., Gate Reviews, Target Agreement meetings).
• Reconcile commercial differences between supplier cost models and OEM target pricing models.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or Automotive Engineering.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in financial controlling, program management, or cost engineering within the Automotive Tier 1 supplier ecosystem or automotive OEM engineering services.
• OEM Knowledge: Strong familiarity with major OEM vehicle development gateways, change management processes, and commercial procedures.
• Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of product cost structures (BOM cost analysis, direct labor, overhead, tooling amortization, and development budgets).
• Technical Understanding: Ability to read engineering changes, BOM structures, and technical specifications to evaluate financial impacts accurately.
• Software Tools: Proficiency in advanced Excel (financial modeling), ERP systems (SAP or similar), and program management software.
• Languages: Business fluency in English is mandatory (written and spoken). Proficiency in French, Italian, or Spanish is a plus.

Key Competencies

• Analytical Thinking: Strong problem-solving ability with a structured approach to data analysis and cost modeling.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Proven capability to align Engineering, Purchasing, Operations, and Sales teams toward common financial targets.
• Negotiation & Assertiveness: Comfortable discussing cost drivers, change orders, and financial tradeoffs with cross-functional and executive teams.
• Autonomy: Ability to thrive in a remote work setup with minimal supervision while managing tight milestone deadlines.

SEGULA Technologies is a global engineering group, boosting the competitiveness of all major industrial sectors: automotive, aerospace, energy, rail, naval, life sciences, and telecoms. With a presence in more than 30 countries and 140 locations worldwide, the Group prioritizes close relationships with its clients, driven by the expertise of its 15,000 employees. As a leading engineering player putting innovation at the heart of its strategy, SEGULA Technologies manages large-scale projects, ranging from initial studies to industrialization and production. SEGULA TECHNOLOGIES is dedicated to gender balance and diversity, recognizing and recruiting talent of all backgrounds.